Spray-producing apparatus for liquids



Oct. 2, 1951 G. M. HALL 2,569,759

SPRAY-PRODUCING APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 20, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

FIG. 1, 56

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SPRAY-PRODUCING APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 20, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

Oct. 2, 1951 G. M. HALL 2,569,759

SPRAY-PRODUCING APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 20, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jazz. Amy-neg,

Oct. '2, 1951 1 2,569,759

SPRAY-PRODUCING APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 20, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFF ICE 'jSPRA'Y-PRODUCIN G APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS Geoffrey Meredith Hall, ldham,.England Application January 20, 1948, Serial No; 3,193

In Great Britain January 28, 1947 8 Claims.

This invention relates to spray-producing apparatus and more particularly to portable .new and improved construction ,of centrifugal spraying apparatusfor liquids in which a high degree .of atomisation is obtainable, less air accompanies the atomised liquid, less of the atomised liquid is lost, its application to the surface meets less resistance, the surrounding atmosphere is less polluted by the atomised liquid and more even dispersion and distribution of the 'atomised liquid on the-,surface to be sprayed is obtainable.

According to the invention a spray producing apparatus for liquids comprises a cup-like feed centrifuge adapted to rotate about-a substantially verticalaxis and having its mouth directed upwardly, a cup-like-atomising centrifuge arranged to'rotate about an axis at right angles to the axis -.of the said cup-dike feed centrifuge and disposed with a part of the rim of said cup-like feed centrifuge within it, a cup-like controlling centrifuge adapted to rotate about an axis lying substantially in the same plane as the axis of the cup-like feed centrifuge and passing through the axisof said cup-like atomising centrifuge, disposed to surround part of the rim of said cup-like atomising centrifuge and having an aperture in its base intersected by the plane in which lies the rim of the atomising centrifuge, a casing surrounding all the said centrifuges and having an orifice also intersected by the plane in which=lies the rim of the atomising centrifuge and in alignment with the aforesaid aperture so that liquid may pass therethrough after ejection from the rim of the atomising centrifuge and after passing through the said aperture inthe controlling centrifuge, means for driving all said centrifuges, and means for-feeding liquid to said cup-like centrifuge.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a part-section, part-elevation viewof a liquid spray-producing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of part of Fig. 1;

.Fig. 3 shows a sectional plan view along the lineAA of Fig. 2, and

Fig. Ashowsa sectional view along the line BB of Fig-3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In carrying the invention into effect according to. oneformby way of example, a portable liquid spray-producing apparatus intended for paint .known type (not shown).

2 spraying, see the accompanying drawings, comprisesya container l for the "paint the mouth of which is turned outwards at 2 to fit within -a corresponding rim 3 of a cap l -to which it is removably attached by toggle clamps of well- The. capsll carries aa vertical tube 5 forming the lowerupart of a feed tube which terminates at its lower end -a. little way above the base of the container, and-at its upper end within the neck of the-container. The

feedtube 5is attached'to the cap;4 by;.means of a three-armed spider 6. -A collinear tube 1 forming the upper part of the feed tube is carried above the tube 5 by a flexible three-armed spider 8 attached to the cap 4, and is-adjustable in position as hereafter described to'provide a, gap 9 between its lower end and the upper end of the tube 5 or to be lowered to close this gap.

Within the-tube 5 and extendingtoabove the upper end of the collinear tube lis .a vertical shaft 19 the lower portion of which is provided with a screw thread ll thus forming with the tube '5 an Archimedean screw. The upper end of the shaft is joined by a'ru'bber coupling 1 2 and bush l 3 to a vertical spindlei t4 carrying arigidlyattached bevel gear wheel l=5 contained in an approximately spherical gear-box casing 1 5. This wheel rotates in a horizontal plane and is in *engagement with a second bevel-gear wheel I! rotatable in a vertical plane. Gear wheel I1 is driven by a horizontal spindle It! on which it is held bya spring clip l9. Spindle I8 is carried by a sleeve 28 passing through the gear box casing Iii, which latter is provided with a wall 2| attached to a super-structure 22 integral with the cap 4. The horizontal spindle I-8 is spliced by means of a rubber coupling 213 to the output shaft '24 of a small, high-speed electric motor (not shown) mounted in suitable housing 25 attached tothe super-structure .by means of a claw mechanism 250. which permits its removal. A pistol-grip handle 16 depends from the .housinaanda .switch...2l for .the motor is mounted in the handle.

A trigger ZSis disposed'between thehandle 2E and thepaint container 1 and-is rigidly connected to a spindle 2.9 carryingan arm which passest-hrough-a gland 35a in the superstructure 22. The end of arm 3l3rrests-on-the upper surface of acollar 3| attached to the collinear tube 5. The arrangement is such that pressure on the trigger 2:8lowersthe collinear tube to close the gap 9 between itand the feed tube 5, whilst release of the trigger causes the collinear tube I to rise under the influence of the elasticity of the spider 8 carrying it.

Surrounding the upper end of the collinear tube 7 is a hemispherical feed centrifuge 32 having a hole in its centre through which the collinear tube passes. The mouth of the centrifuge is directed upwardly and it is carried by a spider 33 attached by a spring clip 34 to the vertical spindle l4.

A third bevel-gear wheel 35 (see Figs. 3 and 4) within the gear-box casing l6 engages the horizontal gear wheel and is mounted on a horizontal spindle 36 to which it is held by a spring clip 31. This spindle is set at an angle of 95 with the axis of the horizontal spindle l8 and passes through the gear-box casing; it carries two partially-hemispherical concentric cup-like atomising centrifugal elements 38 and 39 disposed one within the other attached to the spindle 36 by a spring clip 36a, and hereinafter referred to as a bank of centrifuges. A fourth bevel-gear wheel 49 is mounted on the vertical spindle M to which it is held by a spring clip 4! and this wheel engages with a fifth bevel-gear wheel 42 (see Fig.4) mounted and held in position by a spring clip 43 on a horizontal spindle 44. which is set at an angle of 95 with the axis of the horizontal spindle I8 and on the opposite side thereof to spindle 36. Spindle 4 4 also passes through the gear-box casing and has a bank of two partially-hemispherical cup-like atomising centrifugal elements 45 and 45 mounted on it and attached thereto by means of a spring clip 44a (see Fig. 4). The two banks of atomising centrifugal elements 38, 39 and 45, 46 are arranged with their mouths facing inwards and the inner centrifugal elements 38, 45 of the banks are of such a size as to surround parts of the rim of the feed centrifuge 32 on opposite sides; Both centrifuges have a common centre of curvature which is coincident with that of the gear-box casing It. The outer centrifugal elements 39, 49 have shields 39a, 46a formed at their centres to prevent paint reaching the bearings of shafts 36 and 44 respectively.

The vertical spindle l4 carries a sixth bevelgear wheel 41 mounted above and integral with gear Wheel 49. Gear wheel 41 meshes with a seventh bevel-gear wheel 48 carried by a spindle 49 mounted in a sleeve 59 passing through the gear-box casing. The axis of spindle 49 passes through the common centre of curvatureand lies substantially in the same plane as the axis of V the feed centrifuge 32 between the two banks of atomising centrifuges at an angle of about 60 to the horizontal. A hemispherical controlling centrifuge 5| having an aperture in its base is mounted on spindle 49 by means of a threearmed spider 52 and boss 53 held by a spring clip 54. The centre of curvature of this centrifuge is coincident with the common centre of curvature and its diameter is such that it surrounds parts of the rim of the two outer atomising centrifugal elements 39 and 4B of the two banks.

The super-structure 22, integral with the cap 4, comprises a casing 55 (see Figs. 3 and 4) for the centrifuges havingan orifice 56 opposite to the aperture in the controlling centrifuge 5].

The cap and super-structure may conveniently be formed by die-casting.

A circular shield 51 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is provided operating as a valve to seal the paint container i from the centrifuges when the trigger 28 is in the release position. This shield is attached to the collinear tube 1 and its rim rests on a seating 58 forming part of the super-structure. Should the apparatus be knocked over paint cannot reach the centrifuges except through the collinear tube.

In operation, with the electric motor switched on, a drive is applied to bevel-gear wheel H which causes rotation at high speed of the vertical spindle I4, the vertical shaft in and of all the centrifuges. The Archimedean screw lifts paint up the tube 5 and, with the trigger 28 in its released position, this paint spills over the top of the tube 5, through the gap 9 in the feed tube between the tube 5 and the collinear tube I, back into the container I.

On applying pressure to the trigger, the collinear tube 1 is lowered to close the gap 9, whereupon paint is lifted to the top of the collinear tube, where it spills over the upper end into the feed centrifuge 32. The paint rises up the interior of this centrifuge to its periphery and is thrown outwardly in a horizontal plane in all directions. Some of the paint is caught by the two banks of atomising centrifugal elements 38, 39 and 45, 46 where it travels towards their rims, leaving them in four vertical planes as sprays, indicated by the lines 59, tangential to the rims, flying off in all directions. Paint thrown off by the feed centrifuge 32 not collected by the atomising centrifuges falls back into the container.

Part of the spray from the atomising centrifuges travels out through the aperturejn the base of the controlling centrifuge 5|, part falls on this centrifuge and the remainder falls back into the container. The paint that falls on to the centrifuge 5! is also returned from its rim to the container, but the spray that passes through the aperture travels out of the orifice 56 and de-' posits on the work to be painted. The. effect of the controlling centrifuge is to act as a screen or shield to ensure a beam of paint spray of useful cross-section and also to prevent dripping.

Each bank of atomising centrifuges may comprise three or more partially-hemispherical cuplike centrifugal elements arranged concentrically with one another, all but the outer centrifugal element of each bank having apertures in their bases to permit liquid to reach each of them. These apertures are of progressively decreasing diameters from the inner centrifugal element to that next to the outer centrifugal element. Alternatively each bank may comprise one atomising centrifugal element only.

The arrangement of spindles 36 and 44 with their axes of rotation intersecting at the common centre of curvature at an angle of about 170,

instead of being in line, has the effect of causing the two beams of spray thrown off in the direction of the orifice 56 to be convergent to focus on to the work to be painted.

As the centrifuges are surrounded by the easing which has only the one orifice 5-6, the spray.

of liquid from the atomising centrifuges will only be accompanied by the relatively small air volume entrained by the movement of the atomised liquid itself as compared with previously known constructions in which the atomiser is arranged atomised liquid has to pass to reach such surface. Consequently, the reduction of the volume of air accompanying the spray of liquid reduces such barrier and also reduces the loss of fine 59 spray previously carried away by such moving air barrier. Thus there is greater economy ofliquid, more effective application to the surface to be sprayed and less noxious atmosphere for the operator. The centrifuges may be" of any cup-like form,

fer example, conical. If the aperture in the controlling centrifuge 5| is circular, the emerging beam will be sharply defined; by modifying its shape, e. g. by making it square, the edges of the beam may be reduced in density thus enabling paint to be overlapped. The atomising centrifuges may have their rims of wave-like shape by being serrated or waved and thereby provide portions of their rims in parallel planes of revolution in order to give spread to the beam laterally of the plane of revolution of the rims of the atomising centrifuges.

What I claim is:

l. A spray-producing apparatus for liquids comprising a cup-like feed centrifuge, means for rotating said feed centrifuge about a substantially vertical axis and having its mouth directed upwardly, a cup-like atomising centrifuge, means for rotating said atomizing centrifuge about an axis at right angles to the axis of the said cup-like feed centrifuge and disposed with a part of the rim of said cup-like feed centrifuge within it, a cup-like controlling centrifuge,

means for rotating said controlling centrifuge about an axis lying substantially in the same plane as the axis of the cup-like feed centrifuge and passing through the axis of said cup-like atomising centrifuge, disposed to surround part of the rim of said cup-like atomising centrifuge and having an aperture in its base intersected by the plane in which lies the rim of the atomising centrifuge, a casing surrounding all the said centrifuges and having an orifice also intersected by the plane in Which lies the rim of the atomising centrifuge and in alignment with the aforesaid aperture so that liquid may pass therethrough after ejection from the rim of the atomising centrifuge and after passing through the said aperture in the controlling centrifuge, means for driving all said centrifuges, and means for feeding liquid to said cup-like feed centrifuge.

2. A spray-producing apparatus for liquids comprising a cup-like feed centrifuge, means for rotating said feed centrifuge about a substantially vertical axis and having its mouth directed upwardly, a cup-like atomising centrifuge, means for rotating said atomising centrifuge about an axis at right angles to the axis of the said cup-like feed centrifuge and disposed with a part of the rim of said cup-like feed centrifuge within it, a cup-like controlling centrifuge, means for rotating said controlling centrifuge about an axis lying substantially in the same plane as the axis of the cup-like feed centrifuge and passing through the axis of said cup-like atomising centrifuge, disposed to surround part of the rim of said cup-like atomising centrifuge and having an aperture in its base intersected by the plane in which lies the rim of the atomising centrifuge, a casing surrounding all the said centrifuges and having an orifice also intersected by the plane in which lies the rim of the atomising centrifuge and in alignment with the aforesaid aperture so that liquid may pass therethrough after ejection from the rim of the atomising centrifuge and after passing through the said aperture in the controlling centrifuge, means for driving all said centrifuges, means for feeding liquid to said cup-like feed centrifuge, including a further cup-like awmismg dentr fuge, me s for rotating the same, said further cup l k atomising centrifuge having its axis at right angles to theaxis of the said cup-like feed can; trifuge and disposed so as to have within it a part of the rim of said cup-like feed centrifuge other than that part already within the first cuplike atomising centrifuge and withits axissubstantially in the same plane as the axis the cup-like controlling centrifuge and first-cup-like atomising centrifuge.

3. A spray-producing apparatus for liquids as claimed in claim 2 in which each of said two cup-like atomising centrifuges comprises a plurality of concentric cup-like elements spaced apart one within another, apertures being provided in the bases of all but the outermost cuplike elements to permit liquid from the feed centrifuge to reach each outer element through the aperture of the adjacent inner element.

4. A spray-producing apparatus for liquids as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axes of said two cup-like atomising centrifuges intersect one another at an angle of approximately 1'70 degrees in the aforesaid plane containing the axis of the controlling centrifuge.

5. A spray-producing apparatus for liquids as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rims of all the said atomising centrifuges are shaped wave-like to provide portions of the rim in parallel planes of revolution.

6. A spray-producing apparatus for liquids as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for driving all said centrifuges comprises a gear-box disposed Within said cup-like feed centrifuge, having an input shaft to which motive power may be supplied.

'7. A spray-producing apparatus for liquids comprising a cup-like feed centrifuge, means for rotating said feed centrifuge about a substantially vertical axis and having its mouth directed upwardly, a cup-like atomising centrifuge, means for rotating said atomising centrifuge about an axis at right angles to the axis of the said cup-like feed centrifuge and disposed with a part of the rim of said cup-like feed centrifuge within it, a cup-like controlling centrifuge, means for rotating said controlling centrifuge about an axis lying substantially in the same plane as the axis of the cup-like feed centrifuge and passing through the axis of said cup-like atomising centrifuge, disposed to surround part of the rim of said cup-like atomising centrifuge and having an aperture in its base intersected by the plane in which lies the rim of the atomising centrifuge, a casing surrounding all the said centrifuges and having an orifice also intersected by the plane in which lies the rim of the atomising centrifuge and in alignment with the aforesaid aperture so that liquid may pass therethrough after ejection from the rim of the atomising centrifuge and after passing through the said aperture in the controlling centrifuge, means for driving all said centrifuges, and means for feeding liquid to said cup-like feed centrifuge, said means for feeding liquid to said cup-like feed centrifuge comprises a feed tube, an Archimedean screw disposed therein, both said feed tube and screw dipping into the reservoir aforesaid and means for driving said screw from said gearbox, said feed tube having a gap from said Archimedean screw to said cup-like feed centrifuge, said gap permitting the return of liquid to said reservoir when not required to be converted into spray, together with means for closing and openipg said gap, including actauting means therefor rinderthe 'opera'tors control. 7

'8. A spray-producing vapparatus for liquids as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture in said controlling centrifuge isnon-circular in shape.

' GEOFFREY MEREDITH HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS u Name Date Kermer June 8,1926 Tiffany Dec. 16, 1930 Onge Dec. 10, 1935 MacLachlan July14, 1936 Norris July 713, 1937 Boyd Oct. 24, 1939 

